Device for operating a mouse-operated computer program

ABSTRACT

A device for operating a mouse-operated computer program includes a base having an upwardly projecting handle firmly secured thereto. The handle may also be linked to the base for fixing in any desired position relative to the base. The handle includes an operating means on top of the handle and/or one of the sides of the handle, and/or on the actual base in order to provide signals which can control the position of the mouse pointer on a computer screen. Rolling balls or similar sliding means are provided on the underside of the base.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/214,988,filed Jan. 15, 1999 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for operating a mouse-operatedcomputer program as disclosed in the preamble of claim 1.

When operating a mouse-operated computer program it has hitherto beenusual to use a flat object having push buttons for operation and aroller on the underside which controls the mouse pointer. Thesemouse-like articles have been given an ergometric shape so that they fitwell in the hand, but during use the hand must of course be twisted fromthe natural position of rest, which causes constant tension in the elbowarea. The use of such mice has been found to cause inflammation and painin the arm when used over a long period of time. In order to avoid thesestatic positions it has been recommended that the mouse should be usedin different positions, and different types of underlying surfaces havebeen made which are supposed to give a better working posture, but noneof these have proven to be satisfactory.

In order to overcome some of these drawbacks a so-called mouse pen hasbeen developed, but this has not been found to give the desired resulteither with regard to a normal working posture which does not causetension in the arm.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to obviate the aforementionedproblems of chronic pains and the inconveniences these entail. This isdone by means of a device for operating mouse-operated computerprograms, the characteristic features of which are disclosed in thespecification and the claims. Additional features of the invention aredisclosed in the remaining dependent claims.

By means of the device according to the claims there is provided apossibility of being able to work with mouse-operated computer programswithout any anxiety about muscular tension and other pain since the handwill be in a normal position of rest without any twists of the arm, andthe weight of the arm can rest fully on the device.

Since buttons are located at different points the user will be able tochange fingers when operating icons or similar in the computer program.In this way, static use of the fingers is also avoided, and thus anymuscular tension which might result in chronic conditions will, in asimple manner, be avoided.

The provision on the underside of the mouse of contact points in theform of rolling balls or sliding surfaces enables the device to beoperated with ease of movement on the mouse pad in such a way that noextra strength will be necessary in order to move the mouse pointer onthe screen. This means that the weight of the arm can rest on the deviceand that the usual small lift of the arm with subsequent musculartension will disappear.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference tothe drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device for operating amouse-operated computer program.

FIG. 2 is a view of the device in FIG. 1 from the underside.

FIGS. 3a and 3 b are schematic illustrations of the angles of theprojecting part relative to the base seen from the side and from behind,respectively.

FIG. 4 is a view from above of the device.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the device.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the device from one side.

FIG. 7 is a view of the device from the underside, representing amodification of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram related to opto-electronic sensingof movement of the device relative to a surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the device for operating mouse-operated computerprograms, said device consisting of a base 1 with an upwardly projectinghandle 2 secured thereto. On the top of the handle 2 there is provided amouse-operating means in the form of, e.g., a toggle key 3, or also inthe form of separate push buttons which can be operated by the user'sthumb. However, the operating means 3 may be of any previously knownembodiment of switches capable of actuating the mouse pointer in acomputer program. Several operating means can also be provided on thehandle and/or on the actual base, such as means 3′ on the handle 2,(FIG. 3a) which can be reached by the user's various fingers in orderthus to obtain relief.

On the perspective drawing the base 1 and the handle 2 are made in onepiece. However, it will also be possible to make the handle so that itis linked to the base by means of link devices that are known per se,and can in a simple manner be secured in the desired position relativeto the base. This is so because the device illustrated in FIG. 1 isintended for the average user, but there are also people who havecertain twists relative to the normal plane as a result of previousfractures of the arm or other causes, and in this case the user willthen be able to adjust the handle relative to the base to his particularnormal position of the arm.

In the same way, it will also be possible for left-handed people toadjust the device for left-handed use as the handle 2 has a small tilttowards the left of the figure relative to the base plane, which willnot be particularly convenient for a left-handed person.

What is essential is that the handle 2 is fixed relative to the base 1during use, and that when the user grips around the handle 2, the wristand the arm will be in the position in which there can occur nounnatural twists of the arm which may cause tension.

In FIG. 2 the base 1 is shown seen from the underside. In theillustrated basic example the base is triangular in shape, but it willof course be possible to have a base of any other shape, the essentialbeing that there is an operating ball 4 or similar which, duringmovement of the base 1 against the underlying surface, emits controlsignals to the mouse pointer on the screen. In the illustratedembodiment in FIG. 2, three balls 5 are provided which roll on theunderlying surface during movement, the operating means 4 for the mousepointer having a distance from any mouse pad relative to the balls sothat it is in contact with the signal emitting means in the base. Theballs 5 cause the device to roll without any significant resistance onthe underlying surface, which in turn is instrumental in ensuring thatthe user does not strain himself too much. Sliding means that are knownper se in the form of plastic elevations, or other suitable means whichcause little friction, can of course also be used instead of balls 5. Inthe illustrated example, three contact points are provided, but it is ofcourse also possible to provide more or fewer, although the three pointdevice has been found to be particularly suitable. It will also bepossible to make the whole base 1 in the form of a sliding surface.

It has been proven that the most favourable tilt seen from the side isat an angle α of between 5 and 45 degrees, preferably 23 degrees,relative to a vertical line through the base, cf. FIG. 3a, and seen frombehind, cf. FIG. 3b, an angle β of between 5 and 45 degrees, preferably10 degrees, relative to a vertical line through the base.

The figures relate to a right-handed mouse, in a left-handed mouse thesame angles will apply, but then in the opposite direction withreference to FIG. 3b.

FIG. 3a illustrates, seen from the side, also an angle φ of between 0and 60 degrees at the top of the handle 2 relative to the horizontalplane. The angle φ is preferred to be 20 degrees.

FIG. 4 illustrates the device with USB connector lead 6 and with anoptional PS2 connector lead 6′ for connecting the device to a computer7, e.g. a Personal Computer (PC).

FIG. 5 illustrates that as seen from behind, the operating means 3 isinclined relative to a horizontal plane by an angle γ being in the rangeof 0°-75°, preferably 30°-60°.

FIG. 6 illustrates that the face of the operating means 3 is inclineddownwardly and reardwardly relative to the horizontal by the abovementioned angle φ, and that the handle 2 is forwardly inclined by theabove mentioned angle α.

As shown on FIG. 7, on the the underside of the device there areslide-pads 5. The operating ball 4 or similar means shown on FIG. 2 andcapable of sensing movement of the device relative to a surface, such ase.g. a desktop or mousepad, has in the embodiment of FIG. 7 beenreplaced by an opto-electronic means, whereby light emitted by a lightemitter 8 is detected by a light receiving unit 9 capable of detectingtwo-dimensional movements of the device over a surface 13. Suitably theunit 9 could e.g. be a matrix-type detector, although any suitably typewould be useful. The emitter 8 and the unit 9 are connected via links10, 11 to an operating unit and processor 12 which is linked with thecomputer 7.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for operating a mouse-operated computerprogram comprising, at least one operating means on the underside of abase for providing movement signals to a mouse pointer or indicator on acomputer display, and sliding means provided on the underside of thebase, wherein the base has an upwardly extending handle secured thereto,said handle in a side view tilting in a forward direction, therebyforming an angle α of between 5 and 45 degrees relative to a verticalline through the base, said handle in a rear view forming an angle β ofbetween 5 and 45 degrees relative to a vertical line through the base,and that at least one operating means is provided on a top face of thehandle and/or one of the sides of the handle for functional operation ofthe mouse pointer or indicator, said top face forming an angle φ with ahorizontal plane of between 0 and 60 degrees and wherein the slidingmeans is a plurality of rotatable balls.
 2. A device according to claim1, including toggle key means on said top face and wherein at least oneoperating means is provided on one of the sides of the handle inaddition to said toggle key means on said top face.
 3. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said angle α is 23 degrees.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said angle β is 10 degrees.
 5. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said angle φ is 20 degrees.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said angle α is 23 degrees, said angle β is10 degrees, and said angle φ is 20 degrees.
 7. A device according toclaim 6, wherein said top face having said toggle switch forms saidangle φ with the horizontal when the device is seen from one side, andforms an angle γ of with a horizontal plane of between 0 and 75 degreeswhen the device is seen from the rear thereof.
 8. A device according toclaim 1 wherein said operating means is a roller ball means.
 9. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said operating means is an opto-electronicmeans.
 10. A device according to claim 1 wherein said top face has atoggle switch and said toggle switch forms said angle φ with thehorizontal when the device is seen one side, and forms an angle γ with ahorizontal plane of between 0 and 75 degrees when the device is seenfrom the rear thereof.
 11. A device acccording to claim 10 wherein angleγ is in the range of 30°-60°.
 12. A device for operating amouse-operated computer program comprising, at least one operating meanson the underside of a base for providing movement signals to a mousepointer or indicator on a computer display, and sliding means providedon the underside of the base, wherein the base has from a fraction ofits surface area an upwardly extending handle secured thereto, any crosssection of said handle substantially parallel to said base surface areabeing substantially smaller than said surface area of said base,enabling fingers of a gripping hand to grip around the handle, and saidhandle on its top face having toggle key means for operation by thethumb of said gripping hand, said handle in a side view tilting in aforward direction, thereby forming an angle α of between 5 and 45degrees relative to a vertical line through the base, said handle in arear view forming an angle β of between 5 and 45 degrees relative to avertical line through the base, said top face forming an angle φ with ahorizontal plane of between 0 and 60 degrees.
 13. A device according toclaim 12, wherein at least one operating means is provided on one of thesides of the handle in addition to said toggle key means on said topface.
 14. A device according to claim 12 wherein the sliding means is aplurality of rotatable balls.
 15. A device according to claim 12 whereinsaid angle α is 23 degrees.
 16. A device according to claim 12 whereinsaid angle β is 10 degrees.
 17. A device according to claim 12, whereinsaid angle φ is 20 degrees.
 18. A device according to claim 12, whereinsaid angle α is 23 degrees, said angle β is 10 degrees, and said angle φis 20 degrees.
 19. A device according to claim 12 wherein said operatingmeans is a roller ball means.
 20. A device according to claim 12 whereinsaid operating means is an opto-electronic means.
 21. A device accordingto claim 20 wherein angle γ is in the range of 30°-60°.
 22. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said to face has a toggle switch and saidtoggle switch forms said angle φ with the horizontal when the device isseen one side, and forms an angle γ with a horizontal plane of between 0and 75 degrees when the device is seen from the rear thereof.
 23. Adevice for operating a mouse-operated computer program comprising, atleast one operating means on the underside of a base for providingmovement signals to a mouse pointer or indicator on a computer display,and sliding means provided on the underside of the base, wherein thebase has from a fraction of its surface area an upwardly extendinghandle secured thereto, any cross section of said handle substantiallyparallel to said base surface area being substantially smaller than saidsurface area of said base, enabling fingers of a gripping hand to griparound the handle, and said handle on its top face having toggle keymeans for operation by the thumb of said gripping hand, said handle in aside view tilting in a forward direction, thereby forming an angle α ofbetween 5 and 45 degrees relative to a vertical line through the base,said handle in a rear view forming an angle β of between 5 and 45degrees relative to a vertical line through the base, said top face in arear view forming an angle γ with a horizontal plane of between 0 and 75degrees.
 24. A device according to claim 23, wherein at least oneoperating means is provided on one of the sides of the handle inaddition to said toggle key means on said top face.
 25. A deviceaccording to claim 23 wherein the sliding means is a plurality ofrotatable balls.
 26. A device according to claim 23 wherein said angle αis 23 degrees.
 27. A device according to claim 23 wherein said angle βis 10 degrees.
 28. A device according to claim 23 wherein said operatingmeans is a roller ball means.
 29. A device according to claim 23 whereinsaid operating means is an opto-electronic means.
 30. A deviceacccording to claim 23 wherein angle γ is in the range of 30°-60°.